Folding couch



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N. SHULBRUD.

Y FOLDING COUGH. No. 517,891. Patented Apr. 10, 1894.

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` N. SHULERUD.

FOLDING Gorro-H.

No. 517,891. Pamlted Apr. 10, 1894.l

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

NELs sIIULEEUD, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING couCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,891, dated April 10, 1894;

AApplication led November 29, 1893. Serial No. 492,336. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known thatI,NELs SHULERUD,acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Couches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to bed lounges or couches.

Its object is to providea piece of furniture of this class which is adapted to serve as aV lounge of ordinary form and to open up as a full sized bed 'having a woven Wire mattress extending from side to side continuously.

The invention consists of a central section which serves as the lounge, and wing pieces, one uponv each side, adapted to fold downwardly or to be opened up so as to broaden the surface of the lounge to the width of a bed.

It consists further invarious details of construction as hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l, is a perspective of the lounge when closed, some of the parts being broken away and moved, to better indicate the construction. Fig. 2, is a perspective of the lounge, opened to serve as a bed. Fig. 3, is a vertical, longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is

a transverse, vertical section on the line 4-4t of Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is an inside elevation of the ends of one of the wings. Fig. 6, is a detail ofthe latch for securing the Wingswhen closed.. The lounge consists of the central or bodyr `are provided with legs. The frame of the head portion B, being the same as the foot piece C, I have vnot deemed it necessary to show the former in detail. The two wing portions are exactly alike and have frames comprising a side rail D, and end pieces D',

a top rail d, extending across the ends. The wings are each also provided with a slat d'. The wings are secured tothe central portion by the hinges E, secured to the'end rail d, of the wings and the top of the frames of the head and foot pieces B, C, so as to allow the wings to swing vertically. The end pieces D', of the wings and the frames of the head and foot pieces B, C, are so formed that when the wings are lowered they fit neatly together. A latch F, is secured to the end D', of each of the wings so as to engage a catch f, secured to the frame of the body portion, when the wings are closed. For convenience in ,releasing this latch a cord f', is attached to it and carried by screw eyes to a place where it can loe readily reached.

Each of the wings isprovided with legs G, G, one at each end, pivoted to the side rail VD, so'as to swing longitudinally therewith, a

cord g, being attached to each leg for the purpose of holding it in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. yI prefer to use a single cord for the two legs of each wing, having it carried by screw eyes fixed to the inner surface of the side rail-D, a ring g', being carried by the cord so that by drawing lupon it both legs will' be raised. The pin: g2, is set in the rail D, so that the ring g',may becaught over it so as to secure the legs in their folded position. Spiral springs H, are set upon the slats c, d', for the purpose of supporting the woven wire mattress I, which is stretched from the side rail D, of the one wing to that of the other, and between the head and foot of the lounge. A strong wire K, is stretched directly below the Woven wire mattress at each side of, and longitudinally with, the central portion of the lounge A, so that when the wings are closed the mattress is turned over these wires and a rm edge secured for the lounge. VThe head portion B, of the frame, is extended upwardly, as shown at o, to carry a pillow block L. This block is composed of two sections, l, Z', the length of each being the same as the width of the central portion of the couch, and which are half oval in cross section. These two pieces lie, one on top of the other; when the couch is closed, their flat faces being in contact and the curved side of section @resting in a suitable recess vacross IOO the top h, of the head B, of the frame, the block being somewhat tilted. Extending longitudinally within this recess is a groove or slot b', T-shaped in cross section, and a T- headed bolt b2, set in the pillow block-engages this slot so as to hold the pillow block to its seat but permit it longitudinal movement. When the couch is opened the pillow block is moved so that one end of section Z, coincides with the outer edge of the wing. Section l', is thrown over, the two sections being hinged together at m, m, so as to open in book form. The pillow block now reaches entirely across the couch and presents a flatinclined surface for the reception of the pillows. The curved surfaces of the pillow block L, as well as its ends, are of wood. Its flat surfaces N, are of webbing supported upon spiral springs n, and curved as may be desired with upholstery O. Any desired forni of spring catch may be used at o, for securing the two sections of the pillow block together when closed.

When the couch is open it is important that it should have a foot rail. Then it is closed a foot rail is not needed and would, indeed, be undesirable. I have, therefore, provided a rail which will be entirely out of the way when the couch is closed, being folded down across the foot end of the same, and which may be firmly secured across the foot of the couch when it is closed. This foot rail consist-s of the oblong rectangular frames or sections P, P, of like form and size. These two sections are hinged together at one of their corners p, so as to fold together edgewise, and they are secured to the couch by means of a rod Q, supported by the screw eyes q, q, set in the top of the frame C, and projecting backwardly so that the rod Q, is horizontal and parallel with the end of the couch. A screw eye i", set in one side and near the end of the frame P, loosely engages the rod Q, between the screw eyes q, q, which are spaced apart at least half Vthe width of the central portion of the couch. A second screw eye r', set in the same side and near the farther end of the frame P, is adapted to engage the projecting end of the rod Q, when the foot rail is adjusted for the purpose of kclosing the couch, the two eyes r, r', serving with the rod Q, as hinges for the rail so that it maybe turned down against the end of the couch. Before so dropping the rail, its section P', is, of course, folded over upon the section P, as shown in Fig. l. A simple fastoning p', is provided for securing the two sections together when closed. Section P', of the foot rail is provided with a screw-eye, s, set in its side which is down when the couch is open for the purpose of engaging the projecting end of the rod Q, and hooks u, u, are secured to the side rails D, D, of the wings so as to engage eyes in the outer ends of the foot rail and hold it in a vertical position. The entire couch is upholstered from one side rail B, to the other. The wire K, gives the lounge the characteristic known as the spring edge.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, in a folding couch, of a rigid frame, wings hinged at each side thereof and longitudinal therewith, a wire mattress extending from the outside of one wing to the outside ofthe other wing, upholstery forming a continuous covering for the central section and wings; folding legs for supporting the wings when raised, an extensible pillow block at one end of the central section, and adapted to slide to the outside of one wing and unfold so as to extend to the outside of the other wing, substantially as described.

2. The combination, of a folding couch having a central section and extension wings at each side thereof, of a folding pillow block normally extending across the central section, a T-boit for securing the pillow block to the frame, a transverse channel across the frame for receiving the bolt, whereby the block may be moved in its scat to reach the outside of the couch when extended and be unfolded to extend entirely across the couch, substantially as described.

' 3. In a folding couch the combination with a central portion and with swinging extensions at each side thereof, of an extensible foot rail pivotally attached to the central portion and adapted to hang at the end thereof and to be raised and extended so as to stand erect across the entire couch when open, and means for holding the foot rail in its erect position, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof Iaftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELS SHULERUD.

Witnesses:

L. K. GILLsoN, M. H. L. WING. 

